AC-93-Keynote

Christ, the Leader
1993 Annual Council Keynote Address
By: R S Folkenberg

How do you know if you are successful? By what standard do you measure success? What do you mean when you say:

"There is a successful pastor!"
"There is a successful administrator!"

The measure of success we generally use relates to the position that we have. Do we pastor a large church? Are we an administrator in a large conference? In short, are we moving up "the ladder" in the church?

We live in a world that conditions us to think that to succeed in life, we need to be somebody. We need to accomplish something that is important in the eyes of others.

If being invited to camp meetings is important, then we list those we have been invited to.
If publishing books is important, then we write books.
If traveling to distant lands ant lands is important, then we work out a way to travel and keep careful count of the major cities we've visited.
And if attending Annual Council in Bangalore is important, we figure out a way to be invited to India.

Often we find ourselves using worldly standards to measure success. Success is not a bad thing. Everyone wants to feel successful and valued. We all need to feel that we matter.

From the early days in our lives when we became aware that other people were watching us, we would say, "Watch me! Watch me, Mom! Watch me, Dad!" Now that we are older and more sophisticated, we no longer yell, "Watch me!" Now many of us are tempted to use our positions to communicate our importance. The phenomenon isn't new. Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 20: 20-21 (NIV):

"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. {21} 'What is it you want?' she asked. She said, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.'" (Matthew 20:20-21 NIV)

James and John and their mother knew the desire for success--the desire to be recognized through position. Can't you imagine their thinking? Perhaps they said something like this:

"Jesus himself said that if we agreed on something we were to ask Him and He would grant it."

"Don't we deserve to be chief ministers? We have been very close to Jesus. We were with him on the Mount of Transfiguration."

"It is time for Jesus to be getting organized. You can't run a kingdom by yourself. Jesus needed to begin selecting His cabinet."

Surely they had good reasons for their request. Have you ever rationalized a move to a high position by saying, "I am needed there because it will be a wider field of service."

James and John were no different then we are. We want to stand out, to be measured as successful, to make a mark in the world.

The world generally measures success by position or wealth. In the church, money is not an acceptable way to demonstrate our success and so we are tempted to use position, just like the James and John wanted to do. Just like James and John, aren't we tempted to have a friend or family member pass on some good words about us to the Nominating Committee? We all want to be leaders, to be successful.

So we: seek a higher position, or write more books, or sit on more committees, or travel to exotic lands.

And, in the process, we, like James and John, tend to use the standards of the world to measure our success, to measure our leadership. And if we have more influence then others we feel good about ourselves until we find someone who has more influence then we do, and then we are dissatisfied again.

(ILL) The guards did their first visual inspection. They I walked through the sensing device. The package I was carrying twice had to be x-rayed! We joined others waiting expectantly. A pleasant young lady arrived and ushered us through elegant committee rooms. At last, there was the door! For a small town boy from the mission field it was a heady experience to spend time in the oval office with George Bush, then president of the United States, and to have my picture taken with him! However, did that chance encounter make either of us of greater value in the site of God? No. And apparently my visit contributed little to his career. And I don't ever expect to be the President of the United States--or any other country!

And in this whole process of pursuing success, Satan seeks to get us to compare ourselves with one another as a measure of our value or as a measure of our success. And if we don't happen to have by natural endowment gifts that make us #1, or even #2 in the eyes of the world, then we are destined to struggle with the inferior feelings of "I'm just not good enough."

Our friends don't help us in our struggle because they have their own personal struggles. In fact they sometimes search our worst attributes and then give us nicknames, such as "fat-so," or here in India they might call someone "jungli walla," which we might translate "country-bumpkin."

Comparing ourselves and our success with others always results in loosing. As the Apostle Paul says: "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." [2 Corinthians 10:12]

Each person is God's special creation with unique gifts, and coveting the gifts or position of another disparages God's creation.

Once the teacher of a 4th-grade class asked the students who they would like to be, and why:

Harry wanted to be like Ron because he was strong.
Mary wanted to be like Susie because she was pretty.
George wanted to be like Bill because he was the best player on the sports field.

All of the children were unsatisfied with themselves. In their eyes, another child was better in some way. Have you had that experience, I have:

(ILL) Amateur Hour at Andrews University was a highlight of the school year. I decided to compete and sing Agustine Lara's majestic Spanish song, "Granada." Oh how I practiced. Every night as I walked across the fields to the house where I was staying I sang it at the top of my lungs. Then there was the striking young lady who agreed to play the castanets. Then came the big night. It went off without a hitch. Ours was the next to the last number. I knew we had first prize in the bag! Then Elaine played the violin. She played with a master's touch. And my heart sank! Instead of being thrilled that she won, I was devastated. Second place didn't seem so sweet.

James and John didn't want to take any chances and decided to do whatever it took to be chosen for high position. They simply had to get ahead of the other disciples. So they asked their Mother to approach Jesus.

Jesus responded to the Mother's request by saying: "'You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said to them. 'Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?' 'We can,' they answered. {23}

Let me point out another danger. There is great bravado in ignorance. I can recall when I was younger--before July 1990. I felt that the answers to the problems of the church were easy to come by. It simply meant making the right decisions. I joined the multitudes flooding Elder Wilson's desk with all the answers, without knowing the questions, much less understanding them! Before I had the responsibility, my confidence level was high. But responsibility has given me a whole new perspective.

(ILL) President Johnson was gloating a bit over David Ben Gurion one time because the population of the United States was so much larger then Israel. Johnson was suggesting that his job was much more difficult. Ben Gurion said, "You may be the president of 200 million people but I am the president of 3 million presidents." At times it seems that the same is true of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. On so many issues everyone seems to have the answer.

That was the picture of James and John. They rather rashly and quickly said that they could drink of the cup that Jesus was to drink. If had known the cost of discipleship, they would have been more thoughtful.

Jesus responded to their bravado by saying: 'You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.'" (Matthew 20:22-23 NIV)

Jesus didn't criticize the Mother of James and John for making her request. He didn't criticize James and John for desiring responsible positions. The fact is a sense of self-worth is vital to life. Feeling successful is important to life.

Everyone needs to have a sense of fulfillment. A personal sense of value is crucial to a productive life. But sometimes people do strange things to be noticed in this world.

The "Human Achievements" section of the Guiness Book of Records is filled with entries about those who for some reason were seeking a place in history. Why else would someone:

Balance on one foot for 8 hours and 5 minutes like Alan Maki did on March 3, 1975.
Peel the longest single unbroken apple peel of 130 feet 8 1/2 inches like Frank Freer did on October 17, 1971.
Push a bed a distance of 1,000 miles.
At least there is some usefulness in the record of Mrs. Kathy Perks, who made a bed in 39.4 Seconds.

When the mother of James and John made the request Jesus just said that it wasn't his responsibility to make the decision about positions 1 and 2 in His kingdom. Of course, the story didn't end there: "When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers" (Matthew 20:24 NIV).

Why were they so indignant? There are none so indignant as those who catch someone else doing something that they wish they could have done--if they would only have thought of it first. Then Jesus said: "Jesus called them together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.'" (Matthew 20:25 NIV)

Jesus said, "You know the old way. The way of the worldly kingdom":

Striving to beat out others for position.
Talking about the faults of others to hide your own.

(ILL) The extreme of this selfish self exaltation is illustrated in a modern parable. Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores sat on opposite sides of the street, and the shopkeepers would spend each day keeping track of each other's business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival.

One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, "I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy. Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your wish?" The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!" (Leadership, Fall 1985 p. 76)

The natural result of striving for success in selfish ways using worldly standards of success is self-destruction.

Jesus reminded the disciples of the ways of the worldly kingdom, and then Jesus contrasts the old worldly way with the way of the New Kingdom, by adding in verses 26 and 27: "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave" (Matthew 20:26-27 NIV).

It is not immediately clear how Jesus's methodology for achieving success works.

How does being a servant make you great?
How does being a slave make you successful?
How does taking a lowly position heal low self-esteem?

Jesus did not condemn their desire to be great or successful. He told them how to achieve their goal. Their goal was good, their methodology was wrong. The goal of healing the wound of low self-esteem was good. The band-aid of seeking position over others was bad and increased the effects of the disease.

Jesus said that successful leadership is to be a servant. Success in servanthood? How does being a servant make me great? How does being a slave make me first? The heritage of India is rich with examples.

(ILL) Though a lawyer, educated in England, Mahatma Ghandi forsook all to the nation. At his death he owned only a rice bowl, spectacles and sandals. One of history's greatest leaders, he learned that true value comes through servanthood.

(ILL) I had the privilege of visiting former Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi in his home. While visiting with this young, dedicated leader, I thought of how much the Nehru family gave to the people of India. Beginning with his grandfather, Jawarhalal Nehru, who became the first Prime Minister of India, and continuing through the tragic martyrdom of his mother, Indira Ghandi, and ultimately sacrificing his own life.

(ILL) I must not neglect to mention the little lady--Mother Teresa--who, driven by her love of God and the dying poor to which she ministers, is so humble that, in spite of accolades heaped on her by the world--including the Nobel prize--refuses to let visitors take her picture pointing them instead to those she serves.

Servant leadership is difficult to understand. It turns our worldly concepts of success exactly upside down! To illustrate His statement on how to be great Jesus added: "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28 NIV).

Jesus illustrated leadership with His life. No one, religious or non-religious, could doubt that Jesus was a leader. He has impacted the lives of more people than anyone in history.

He so threatened the leaders of His day with his "servant leadership" that they crucified Him. Of the sources of power and leadership that the world follows, what did He use?

Position?

Paul says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:5-7)

Certainly it was not through position that Jesus influenced the world for He gave up His heavenly position to become a servant.

Riches?

Jesus left heaven's riches and took, not the position of a rich man but the position of a poor peasant carpenter.

Power?

Jesus just before His crucifixion said to Peter, "Put your sword back in its place,...for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:52-53)

With the power of all of heaven at his disposal, He nevertheless continued to walk the path to the cross.

Ellen White pointed out one of the secrets of success when she penned: "Your success is in your simplicity." (5T 667) And she added another when, describing Joshua's leadership she wrote: "The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm... The men of prayer are the men of power" (PP 509).

We are called, as leaders in the Church, to live as Jesus did, leading through servanthood. It is servant leadership that changes the world. We can't transform the world if we use worldly leadership methods. It isn't through position, wealth, or power that we will be the church of Jesus Christ.

(ILL) Ernest Gordon's Miracle on the River Kwai tells a story about servant leadership. The Scottish soldiers, forced by their Japanese captors to labor on a jungle railroad, had degenerated to barbarous behavior, but one afternoon something happened:

A shovel was missing. The officer in charge became enraged. He demanded that the missing shovel be produced. When nobody in the squadron budged, the officer got his gun and threatened to kill them all on the spot. It was obvious the officer meant what he said. Then, finally, one man stepped forward. The officer put away his gun, picked up a shovel, and beat the man to death. When it was over, the survivors picked up the bloody corpse and carried it with them to the second tool check. This time, no shovel was missing. Indeed, there had been a miscount at the first check point.

The word spread like wildfire through the whole camp. An innocent man had been willing to die to save the others! The incident had a profound effect. The men began to treat each other like brothers.

When the victorious allies swept in, the survivors, human skeletons, lined up in front of their captors and instead of attacking their captors insisted: "No more hatred. No more killing. Now what we need is forgiveness." (Leadership Winter 1989 p. 47)

The sacrificial love of one "servant-leader" transformed a prison camp and the lives of those in it. The love of the Master Servant-Leader, our Lord Jesus Christ, can transform our lives too.

Servant leadership is the giving of oneself for another.

Rather then holding my opinions as supreme, I yield for the good of the body.
Rather then having concern for my position, I will put first the good of the church.
Rather than breaking others with my gossip, my heart will break over the pain of others.
Rather than protecting my position, my department, my program, I will exalt the Gospel Mission of the church.

Too often we become confused and think that what is good for us is good for everyone. We selfishly think that our position is more important then the position of the church. We are so busy climbing the ladder to success that we don't realize that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.

The only success that we will find in life must be found in following Christ, the Servant Leader.

He came not to show off his worth;
He came to give us worth.
He came not to enrich Himself at our expense;
He came to impoverish Himself to make us rich.
He came not to impress us with His glory;
He came to share His glory with us.
He came to us not because we had value;
He came to us to give us value.

So by the grace of God we each have gifts to feed others so that they can reach their goals, rather then feeding on others so we can reach our goals.

In Christ I find healing for I am a child of God. In Christ I am not called to be somebody but to serve someone.

I am called:

Not to look like someone but to look after someone.
Not to be smarter then someone but to share wisdom.
Not to be richer but to share God's riches of grace.
Not to have a higher position then someone else, but to serve to the best of my ability in whatever position the Lord places me.

So in Christ I will share any gift he has given me, as His servant. The way I use my God-given gifts may not impress the world. But that is not what counts. By heaven's standard, we only serve as we serve our Lord.